Analysing Action Genre Opening Sequences - 'Logan'

The third opening scene I will be identifying the action genre conventions in is from 'Logan'.

The opening scene of 'Logan' uses several genre conventions which allows the audience to understand that the film belongs to the action genre. 

As the scene begins we are introduced to a character waking up inside a car and looking disorientated as people are screaming outside; this instantly creates mystery and enigma for the audience as they don’t know what happened to him (how or why he is in the car), nor what will happen next. 

The close up of his feet as he steps out the vehicle is the first bit of cinematography which highlights that this film is part of the action genre, as it suggests he is perplexed and is going to check out what the problem is. This creates suspense for the audience as they may be expecting something significant to happen. A pedestal shot reveals there is a gang causing chaos as they try and steal his wheels, this creates tension as the audience wait to see what happens next. Additionally, the tight framing of the gang highlights that they are a closely knit group who all work together. A pleonastic gun shot sounds which creates confusion and shock for the audience as they assume Logan has been killed. 

As we see a medium shot of the protagonist laying on the floor actually alive, this creates mystery for the audience as they may assume he has superpowers which keep him alive, which is typical of action films. The pleonastic diegetic sound of the protagonists claws coming out of his hands emphasise to the audience that he has superpowers which will allows him to battle the enemies. This creates excitement for the audience as they are about to watch an intense fight scene (a typical set-piece common in action films). 

As the fight scene begins the editing begins to quicken which intensifies the action. The protagonist becomes extremely aggressive and kills them all in a violent way leaving them all dead other than one who drives away. This emphasises to the audience that this protagonist is a highly skilled, resilient and lethal character, therefore the audience create expectations of what he will be like in the rest of the film. The iconography in the opening scene is typical of action films as the film is set in an abandoned place where there is no one else to help the ‘hero’, and the low-key lighting helps emphasise this. Additionally, the protagonist is wearing a smart outfit which is common for characters who want to look sleek and blend in with others. Guns and weapons (typical props associated with the genre) are used in the fight to make the scene more thrilling for the audience and gives them an adrenaline rush during the opening scene, which makes them excited for the rest of the film.